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So I decided to start working on a Testors 1/48 Travel Air Mystery Ship. Those of you familiar with the kit will know that the cockpit detail is non-existent....with that in mind, I decided to scratch build the cockpit. Things were travelling along quite nicely - I'd finished the rear bulkhead, put in some sidewall detail (using a considerable amount of imagination, as there's bugger all on the internet..), done a floor, the back part of the IP, just about finished the joystick, and finished the seat. This morning I was test fitting the seat to see how well it fit into the cockpit (and maybe sand it back a touch..) when I dropped it. Now a cockpit seat is a reasonably large part....and I can't find the damn thing! FAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRKKKKKK!!!!

And, of course, five seconds after writing the above, I found the seat.
Here's a pic of what I've done so far. I *may* even get this done for expo..

From left to right..
Cockpit sidewall with throttle quadrant
Cockpit sidewall with map case (couldn't think of anything else to put there..)
IP prior to cutting it down to size
Rear bulkhead
Cockpit floor
Seat
Joystick

Thanks to Paul Sabin for the kit!

The kit wheels and spats..

What I'm planning to do is cut the wheels in half, then remove the short axle from them. This will facilitate assembling the spats first, then I can paint them separately...it'll make masking much easier. (I speak from experience here!) I've cut two lengths of 1.5mm dia rod to substitute for the axles, and they'll be glued in when I assemble the spats.

....and here's the cockpit mostly assembled..


The other side..

Things are progressing quite well - it's amazing how quickly it's going together, considering my otherwise glacial build rate
Anyhow, primed and ready to paint. That was going to happen this afternoon (and still might - depends if I get the other bits primed as well..)

Major fail with the painting....I was laying down a coat of gloss red, and it didn't stick in places. Gonna have to rub it back and start over..

Hang in there, you can do it, you know you can

Well, a bit of sanding and another paint job kinda saved the day. Except for the small ding I made when I mishandled the model.....more sanding once this coat has dried.
I seem to be having a bit of trouble with Tamiya grey primer out of the rattle can - it just doesn't go on as smoothly as I'd like, and sometimes pools...making more work for me. Geez, modelling is frustrating!!

Good paint job recovery and coming a long nicely.
I know this might be a dumb question but are you warming the can in warm water prior to spraying??.
I do this with Mr Surfacer grey primer and it always goes on and lays down beautifully.
TOR

tor lives wrote:Good paint job recovery and coming a long nicely.
I know this might be a dumb question but are you warming the can in warm water prior to spraying??.
I do this with Mr Surfacer grey primer and it always goes on and lays down beautifully.
TOR

Thanks for that tip Ray....I'll give it a go next time